Great River Road Effigies

GRR NSB GreatNATIONAL River SCENIC RoadBYWAY Group Travel Itinerary Along the majestic Mississippi River on Iowa’s Eastern border World class vistas, charming river towns, magnificent limestone bluffs and thriving river wildlife NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY ? and astonishing history. Set on the banks of the Mississippi River, the campus has a plethora of activities including the chance to feed GRR NSB sting rays, tours of a retired river boat and a 3D/4D theater. Group Travel Itinerary On one of the most picturesque sections of the Upper Mississippi River Valley, tucked into the dramatic hills is Iowa’s only national Iowa's river towns have a flair all their own. Experience it for yourself monument, Effigy Mounds. The site has 200-plus American when you follow the Mississippi River between Iowa's southern and Indian burial mounds, many in the shape of animals known as northern borders along Iowa's portion of the Great River Road effigies. The natural area and interpretive center offer opportunities National Scenic Byway. Part of a 3,000-mile long network of to contemplate the meanings of the mounds and the people who Federal, state and county roads, the Great River Road stretches the built them. Fantastic hikes reward viewers a photoworthy view. length of the Mississippi River from the headwaters in Lake Itasca, Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. ScenicRising 450 feet Spotsabove the community of Lansing and the Upper Mississippi River Valley, Mount Hosmer provides opportunites UniqueNamed after Julien Adventures Dubuque, the charming city of Dubuque is where for picnicking and hiking but is most well-known for its incredible Iowa history, as we know it, began! Julien is credited with being the “birds-eye” view of the Mississippi River and Black Hawk Bridge. first European settler to set foot in Iowa. He arrived around the end of the 18th century when Spain owned this part of the future United Downstream near McGregor, you’ll find a spot graced by the States. The Governor of Spain provided a land grant for Julien to legend, Zebulon Pike. He was commissioned by the United States work a lead mine on the 189-acre area that eventually became in 1805 to explore the Mississippi River Valley after the Louisianna known as the, “Mines of Spain”. Over 200 years later, the Mines Purchase. He reported that the area now known as Pike’s Peak of Spain Recreation Area encompasses over 1,000 acres State Park, would be an ideal location for a fort because of its and is a brilliant spot for wildlife watching, canoeing, hiking and expansive views. Although that never came to fruition, this park learning at the E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center. Visit the overlook and offers exceptional overlooks 500 feet up the dramatic bluffs that the 100-year old monument where Julien Dubuque is buried, and will illuminate the area’s appeal to Pike. Two years after his trip revel in the beauty of the Mississippi River. to Iowa, Pike was again commissioned by the US Government to make another Western exploration; the one where he discovered Major American history happened along the Mississippi River when what is now Pikes Peak, Colorado. Iowa’s Pikes Peak has been the United States was in its infancy. Step into the past as a costumed owned by the federal government for hundreds of years and for this guide leads you through the reconstructed Old Fort Madison. reason, probably looks much the same as when Zebulon Pike first Learn about the booming business at the trading post and the violent explored it. A delight for fall leaf watchers. battles surrounding the Fort during the War of 1812. Zebulon Pike made his mark all along the Mississippi River during If the fine arts are of interest to you, you can’t miss the Figge Art his first government-commissioned excursion. Crapo Park & Museum in downtown Davenport. The Figge is the premier art Arboretum in Burlington is reported to be the site where, in exhibition and education facility between Chicago and Des Moines 1805, Zebulon first raised the American flag on Iowa’s soil. Ninety- with world-class rotating exhibitions and an impressive permanant years later, Phillip Crapo established the 85-acre park, which is best collection featuring internationally important art from the 15th known for its multitude of perennial flowers, shrubs and trees. The century to present time. park also includes the Black Hawk Spring and Cave, which you can crawl through for more than 100 feet. While in the area, stop at For the ultimate Mississippi River celebration, the National the Burlington Heritage Center Museum, a 100 year old Mississippi River Museum & Aquairum in Dubuque, a specimen of beautiful architecture and detailed woodwork housing Smithsonian Affiliate, engages all ages with beautiful aquariums exhbitis of local river history. www.bywaysofiowa.org || www.iowabyways.org As you travel the Great River Road, tucked between the Mississippi Fish Marina in Princeton, watch how recreationists take advantage River and the limestone bluffs is the area now known as Guttenberg. of the restaruant’s dockside delivery and soak up the sunset during No matter which way you enter, you’ll find dramatic overlooks of the dinner on the large patio built right over the river. historic town including an aerial perspective of US Army Corp of Engineer Lock & Dam Number 10. This historic German community Try some of Bent River Brewing Company’s signature beers is nestled in the heart of the Upper Mississippi River National Fish in charming downtown Burlington. To pay homage to the river, their and Wildlife Refuge, next to stately and numerous local, state and brews feature names like Mississippi Blonde, Paddle Wheel Pale Ale, private natural resource areas. A real gem! and Undercurrent IPA. ? The City of McGregor is nestled between the Mississippi River and the towering bluffs of Northeast Iowa in near proximity to Pikes Peak State PointsLet your imagination of Discoveryflow down to the river landing, where the Park. Although small in size, McGregor is big in character! Enjoy waters of Village Creek gently converge with the Mississippi River the old timey feel of streets lined with 19th century buildings housing near Lansing, Iowa. Imagine a place once bustling with clanking antique and specialty shops and restaurants. By the Spoonful is tools and shouts of fishermen hauling in the day’s catch; the low, a great place for a quick bite to eat. The shop specializes in Iowa- mournful sound of the steamboat whistle echoing through the steep made goods, dairy treats, locally sourced meats and homemade bluffs and along the sacred, earthen mounds. Towering glaciers take and bake meals! For a sit down meal in McGregor, you can’t passed around this very spot—scraping and scouring all but this go wrong with Old Man River Restaurant & Brewery. land, a breathtaking region known as the “Driftless Area.” The OMR has a nice atmosphere and a good selection of microbrews Driftless Area Education & Visitor’s Center features three on tap. levels of cultural, recreational, natural and historical interpretation on the significance of this unique area. Wine and shopping anyone? PromiseLand Winery is a lady’s paradise on the Great River Road in the southern hills of Guttenberg. For an in-depth look at the area’s fisheries, book a chat at the Inside the elegant looking building is a spacious tasting room, an Guttenberg Hatchery & Aquarium in historic downtown event room and five fun boutiques! Take a walk or drive up to the Guttenberg. Located within the Upper Mississippi River Fisheries vineyard to see where the award-winning wines begin. Enjoy some Station, the aquarium houses fish species common to the area. At music in the front courtyard when the weather is nice or warm up by this particular DNR station, staff are experts in the field of harvesting a cozy fire when it’s too cold to be outside. Whatever the occasion, brood stock for spawning operations. This means, millions of PromiseLand Winery is a unique and gorgeous destination! fish eggs are collected, fertilized and hatched here before being transported to ‘Rearing Stations’ and then to Iowa’s lakes and rivers. Have you ever heard of the “Gold Rush of the Midwest”? Well, there LodgingThe Great River Road Locales has a wide variety of lodging options from was a rush for a valuable commodity right here in Iowa, but it wasn’t traditional to rustic to high end. Hotel Julien in Dubuque and a precious metal, it was mother of pearl! At the National Pearl Hotel Blackhawk in Davenport are both beautifully restored Button Museum, you’ll learn Muscatine’s history in becoming luxury hotels in two of the larger river towns along the Mississippi the Pearl Button Capital of the World and the fascinating story of route. Hotel Julien has been a hotel since the 1830s and gained the connection between a booming industry and small town growth. notoriety from such famous guests as Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, Buffalo Bill Cody and Al Capone. After undergoing a massive The Buffalo Bill Museum in LeClaire is a tribute to the famous renovation, this elegant boutique hotel is a magical blend of rich American frontiersman and showman who was born in this small history and modern luxury. town on the river. LeClair is also home to the American Pickers. Spend the day in bustling, downtown Davenport with Hotel Blackhawk The Hopewellian mounds at the Toolesboro Indian Mounds as your ‘home-base’. The elegant, historic boutique hotel is fully & Museum in Wapello will take you back to ancient American modernized and has over 130 guest rooms and panoramic views Indian history.

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